Like Father, Like Daughter

"Ah, it's already this late!?"

Mark checks his watch after watching the sun slowly lowering itself out of our view.

"I'm just here talking and talking! I really am getting old…"

"Gah! My homework!"

I got too caught up in watching the rabbits and listening to this guy that I completely forgot about getting work done.

"I haven't even touched the maths yet and I still have more of my history homework to deal with! Then I have to figure out something for dinner! Preparing something will take way too long…"

"Right, you're a student! Sorry about that, Noa!"

While I spiral into despair, Mark is sweating with a hand on his chin in thought. After a few moments, a light seems to pop up above his head.

"I got it! I'll treat you guys to dinner at a local diner. You can work on some of it while we're waiting and you won't have to worry about cleaning up afterwards."

"N-No! You don't have to do something like that for us!"

"Don't worry about it! Ange and I are partially to blame for distracting you, so I'm just making it up to you!"

With a similar insistence as when I was nearly murdered, he gives me little room to refuse. If I'm being honest, his offer is simply too perfect. Not only do I get all of the time I need to complete my assignments, I also don't have to spend our precious coin. As much as I feel like he's being too kind, there isn't a better way for me to get everything I want.

"Thank you, Mark! I really really appreciate it!"

The two of us get to our feet and call our respective rabbits.

"Come on Mira, food time!"

"We're going to Corn Field, Ange! Let's hurry and get ourselves some free bread!"

The two girls obviously hear us. They were completely focused on their heated chess match, but now they're both shuffling anxiously as they stare at the last remaining pieces on the board. It appears to be Ange's move and you can see the gears whirring rapidly in her head.

"Dad, I only need a few more minutes! I've almost won!"

"This game is far from over! I just need a few turns to catch up!"

A pair of growls make themselves known from the stomachs of Ange and Mira. The sweat begins to drip down their faces.

"O-Old Man Beard, I think we should end this quickly!"

"Y-You don't need to tell me, Droopy Ears! I just…need a bit more time!"

"But our food is waiting! What if it goes away before we get there!"

"G-Good point…"

Ange shuts her eyes tightly and her hand trembles just above the black rook. She looks between the board and Mira, but is unable to make a decision.

"We both want food, so look!"

Mira points to the white pawn along the same column.

"Just take this pawn! I'll take your rook with mine, you take with bishop, then I'll take your pawn with my bishop."

"But that will lead to…wait!"

A realisation occurs and the two rabbits look at each other with a smile.

"It'll be a draw!"

"That way we don't have to lose! We can fight again later on a full stomach!"

"I hate to admit it, but your idea is perfect!"

With newfound energy, Ange makes her move and the game continues as Mira suggested. As the last pawn falls, the two clap hands together in a spirited handshake. Neither player has sufficient material to checkmate the opponent, so the game ends with a draw and they are freed from their fight.

* * * * *

"So many options…"

"That's a restaurant for you."

The large menu is open in front of Mira at one of the pages for dinner entrees. You can see the spirals spinning about in her blue eyes whilst she nibbles on a chunk of cornbread from the basket at the centre of the table. She tugs at the sleeve of my shirt while my pencil scribbles away at one of my remaining assignments.

"Noa…I don't know what to do…"

"Don't worry, I already picked something out for you."

With at least five pages of different dishes to choose from without even counting appetizers, there was no way she was going to be able to make a choice on her own. To a rabbit, the names of the food might as well be an alien language yet to be deciphered.

Across the table, Mark and Ange are still perusing the items on the menu with furrowed brows and stern grimaces.

"Maybe this is the day I get the ribeye. I've been eagerly craving a nice cut of steak."

"That won't do, Dad. You had a lot of beef last time."

The young girl flips Mark's menu to the next page.

"Wouldn't it be more fair to give their other meats a try? I'm sure the steak would taste the same as the sirloin from last time."

"You have a point, Ange. Hmm, maybe I should try the chicken? What do you have your eyes on?"

"Hehe, take a look at this!"

Ange pushes her menu over on a page filled with specialty items. Her small finger points to a picture of one of the featured options. Mark's eyes light up alongside hers.

"Cream Shrimp Pasta!"

"Woah! That really is a nice choice!"

"Grilled shrimp swimming in creamy garlic parmesan, all topped over angel hair pasta. It just sounds perfect!"

The young rabbit puffs out her chest with a proud grin as Mark joins her on the specialty page.

"Seafood, huh? I guess I'll try the blackened tilapia then."

"Oh, we haven't had tilapia in a while!"

"Exactly! Look at that Cajun-seasoned fish grilled to perfection atop seasoned brown rice!"

The two of them share a hearty high five as the waitress arrives to take our order. Once she has left, Ange and Mark proceed to eat a chunk of cornbread at the same time and in the same manner. The two of them chew with so much joy that I feel like I'm missing out on some kind of delicacy.

"Mmm! I can never get enough of the bread!"

"We have to be careful, Ange, or we'll end up eating three whole baskets like last time!"

They look down at the basket of cornbread that now contains nothing more than crumbs.

""Crap…""

I flip the page of my handout and continue scribbling away as the father/daughter pair laugh without a care in the world. They may look nothing alike, but you can never tell that they aren't related by watching them. The rabbit has picked up many of Mark's mannerisms. No, it's also the other way around. We may have just met today, but I couldn't possibly imagine a salaryman like Mark being this bouncy and jovial. His life was turned completely upside down, but not in a bad way.

Mira kept her copy of the menu and is still trying to understand the words while Ange talks with Mark about other food items. Seriously, you can't even tell that Ange wasn't always human.

"How long has it been since you found Ange?"

Their conversation is interrupted by my curiosity and the two both look at me for a moment before falling into thought. They even look the same when they're thinking.

"What was it…three months ago? Right, Ange?"

"I don't remember…I think it was some time in July…"

"Huh? That's it!?"

People can rarely get to know each other this well after years of spending time together at school. You can see somebody every single day without ever understanding what they're thinking.

My exasperation brings Mark to raise an eyebrow

"I don't know why you're surprised. The two of you seem even more unusual."

"Mira and me?"

The rabbit beside me looks up at the sound of her name. Mark finishes a bite of bread before continuing.

"It took a lot of work to convince Ange to come home with me. Even when I finally got her back to my apartment, she was always restless and wouldn't leave from under the bed except for meals."

I can feel his gaze working its way up and down my form. Somewhere, there should be a difference between us. Whatever it is, even I'm not aware.

"It took weeks for Ange to finally get used to her new life, but Mira seems perfectly comfortable after only a day. What kind of magic did you use?"

"Even if you ask, I have no idea…"

Mira and I trade glances. Hardly a reason to speculate when the rabbit in question can tell her tale. Animal scientists would kill to be in my shoes.

"What did you think when I picked you up?"

"Hmm…"

She contemplates for a while before giving an answer that seems to confuse her as much as the rest of us.

"I mean, Noa was always there?"